Chapter 191: The Bombing Starts (12)

— Your place? What’s wrong?

“Uh, I’ve got a few places to go to,” Park Do-Joon replied in a hurry.

Woo Tae-Bong kept silent, knowing what Park Do-Joon was referring to instinctively.

“Hyung? Are you listening?”

— Where do you actually want to go? ICU Entertainment? Then to MBS Broadcasting Station and Samseong-dong?

With every question Woo Tae-Bong threw, his tone grew more intense. Park Do-Joon was rendered speechless for a while and furrowed his brows.

— I think this is you being nosy, Park Do-Joon.

“But hyung, this is related to Jae-Gun. I can’t just stand by and do nothing, not when my friend experienced something like that.”

— Sure, I understand. But what are you planning to do? Is there even anything you can do to help?

“I’ll make her apologize, of course. And also acknowledge her wrongdoings publicly.”

Woo Tae-Bong’s ridiculous chuckle tickled Park Do-Joon’s ears.

— Do you think Bo-Ra would listen to you? And there’s no evidence at all, Do-Joon. It’s not something you can resolve by stepping up. She’s a venomous one, and I’ve told you many times not to provoke her.

“...!”

— Please, Do-Joon. Listen to me if you understand where I’m coming from.

Park Do-Joon rubbed his temples. Woo Tae-Bong had always been his suppressor. As always, Woo Tae-Bong was right about everything. Park Do-Joon couldn"t refute at all.

After a while of contemplation, Park Do-Joon said, “I’m sorry, hyung.”

— What does that mean? What are you sorry for?

“I’m sorry for getting ahead of myself. I’ll have a can of beer and sleep afterward.”

A long sigh of relief came from Woo Tae-Bong.

— Good. You’re feeling lonely, right? Let me buy you some snacks.

“Don’t. I’ve already opened a can of beer. I’ll be sleeping in thirty minutes.”

— All right. Let’s not create any trouble and look ahead. Keep going on a roll, got it?

“Yes, yes, I hear you. You should rest, hyung.”

Park Do-Joon hung up the call and then immediately changed into another set of clothes and stepped out of his house. He felt sorry for Woo Tae-Bong, but he couldn"t just ignore the news he had received today.

***

“I’ll leave it in your hands then, manager. Please add on a charge on fallacy and a maximum fine of ten million won.”

“Don’t worry, we specialize in such cases, after all. I’ll be taking my leave then.”

“Yes, please be safe on the way back.”

The manager from the lawyer’s office left.

Bo-Ra"s grimace disappeared, and she plopped down on the sofa. Her manager was busy on a call with the CEO of their agency while Yu-Na was cleaning up the broken pieces of the shattered plate in the kitchen.

“We’ve set a date for the press conference,” her manager said as he sat down across from Bo-Ra after ending the call.

“Come to the office in the evening to meet the CEO later. He instructed you to stay at home aside from the times when you have to work.”

“Why should I? I didn’t do anything wrong.” Bo-Ra shot back with a glare.

Her manager was rendered speechless but soon laughed self-mockingly.

“You still want to do this in front of me?”

“Oppa, are you hearing yourself? You’re also suspecting that I instructed her to do it, right?”

“Forget it, forget it… Anyway, this is a crucial period. Your career can go downhill in an instant.”

“...Hmpf.”

Bzzt! Bzzt! Bzzt!

Bo-Ra picked up her phone. If it were before, she would have answered the call from Park Do-Joon cheerfully. However, the situation was entirely different now. There was no way she couldn’t tell why he had called at this time unless she were a fool.

“Who is it? Why aren’t you answering?”

“Don’t be nosy.”

The vibration stopped but soon resumed ringing again. Bo-Ra hesitated for a while before walking to the terrace to answer the call. She did not say anything after answering, and Park Do-Joon’s harsh voice was soon heard.

— Where are you now?

“I’m at home.”

— That’s great. I’m in the area. There’s a cafe on the third floor of the building that you’re living in. Come and have a cup of coffee with me.

“Why out of the blue? You haven’t been answering when I called you these days.”

— …Stop playing dumb and meet in person. I’m going to wait for ten minutes there. If you don’t come, I’m going to head up.

Park Do-Joon then ended the call.

Bo-Ra took out her fringe roller as she let out a sigh.

“Where are you going?”

“The convenience store downstairs. I’ll be back soon.”

Bo-Ra took the elevator and pressed the b.u.t.ton to the third floor. As it went down, her phone rang again. Bo-Ra took out her phone and looked at it with an annoyed look.

However, she quickly organized what she wanted to say in her mind and answered the phone.

“Oh my, who is this? Isn’t this Writer Won Ji-Yeon?”

— I-I’m sorry, unni. It’s all my fault. I was so desperate that I lost my mind.

Bo-Ra suppressed her laughter that was threatening to burst and continued. “There’s no way. My lawyer must have already contacted you. You shouldn’t be saying this to me, Writer Won Ji-Yeon; it"s already too late.

"Are you still holding a grudge against me over that incident when I accidentally poured water on you? I apologized to you many times, but that was already water under the bridge. Were you still holding a grudge against me?”

Bo-Ra couldn’t speak her mind with the suspicions that Won Ji-Yeon might be recording their phone conversation. Just then, she arrived at the third floor, and the elevator doors opened.

— P-please forgive me this once. Unni, I don’t even have 100,000 won to my name now, and it’s too difficult for me to live. I might even do something drastic! Sob sob…!

Won Ji-Yeon’s sniffles resounded in Bo-Ra’s ears.

Bo-Ra was full of vigor as she walked down the corridor. In some ways, she thought of Won Ji-Yeon as someone in a worse state than herself.

“It’s none of my business. I’ll be hanging up since I’m busy; I have to prepare for the press conference, too. I wish you all the best.”

— U-unni! Bo-Ra un—

Beep!

Bo-Ra hung up dispa.s.sionately. She soon arrived at the cafe. Stepping in, she spotted Park Do-Joon sitting in a corner far from the window. A few customers around stared at Bo-Ra the moment she appeared.

“This is going to draw people’s attention,” Bo-Ra said.

“It’s better to meet in public locations if you don’t want rumors spreading around. Not the truth, but real rumors,” Park Do-Joon stressed.

Bo-Ra chuckled coldly and sat down opposite Park Do-Joon.

"I"m quite busy today, I don"t have time for coffee. Make it quick."

"Apologize publicly."

"Me? To whom?"

"Didn"t I say not to play dumb? Do I have to mention names here?"

Bo-Ra shrugged with her palms facing up.

"Ahh, you"re talking about the rumors on the internet? So you"re here because of that."

"I see that your acting has improved. Why can’t you act like this in front of the camera?” Park Do-Joon narrowed his eyes.

Bo-Ra’s face flushed in that instance, but she soon composed herself and smiled calmly. “Regardless, there’s nothing for me to apologize for. That a.s.sistant writer is probably trying to get back at me after I scolded her before. I scolded her for not doing her job well, and now she’s getting back at me for it. How shallow.”

Bo-Ra reached out and grabbed Park Do-Joon’s iced coffee. Taking a sip from the straw, she added softly, “And Oppa, I’ve got a question for you. Are you really free to the point that you’re willing to step up over something like this?”

“Chae Bo-Ra…!”

“Where did you go? Our agency and the broadcasting station? What did you find out there?”

Park Do-Joon was almost on the verge of banging his fist on the table. Before he could explode, Bo-Ra sent him a final wave.

“If you’re so free, why don’t you take care of your girl group girlfriend instead?”

“...?!” Park Do-Joon drew in an astonished breath.

Bo-Ra covered her mouth in amus.e.m.e.nt as she watched Park Do-Joon’s face change. “Did you think I wouldn’t know? Well, too many dating rumors wouldn"t do much harm to such a popular actor like you, and you"re not the type to be concerned over such things as well.

"Do you really think that it"ll be the same for a girl group member? I"m talking about that girl group A; aren"t they in a crucial period at the moment?"

"You… where did you hear that nonsense?"

"Oh, so it"s nonsense when the topic is you? Let"s stop this, alright?" Bo-Ra smiled, looking at ease.

Park Do-Joon couldn"t calm himself down as he seethed in anger.

"I can go back now, right? See you next time, Oppa."

Park Do-Joon could only watch Bo-Ra as she left the cafe scot-free.

Park Do-Joon felt like he had gotten stabbed in the back.

Just then, a few customers approached Park Do-Joon and asked, “I’m your fan. Can you please sign…”

“That was Bo-Ra unni, right? She looks quite cheerful, I guess the news on the internet was just a rumor.”

Park Do-Joon couldn’t reply to any of their questions and took the pen from the customer. However, his hands were trembling like a person with seizures, rendering him unable to write even a single word.

***

"You"re leaving it all to me?"

"Yes, just let me check the script at the end for once," Ha Jae-Gun said.

He was talking about the drama production for Summer in My 20s, which was a.s.signed to Lee Eun-Ha.

"Can I really do that?"

"Your scenario was good. Plus you liking my work is the icing on top. I can feel relieved and leave it in your hands."

They were currently at the restaurant in the arcade near the Bucheon office. There were only the two of them since they were discussing the drama.

"Let"s dig in now."

Ha Jae-Gun took the ladle and handed a bowl of the stew to Lee Eun-Ha.

Lee Eun-Ha accepted the bowl, still in a daze.

"I never thought a day like that would come in my life…" Lee Eun-Ha mumbled as she looked down at the bowl.

"Everything is going well for me ever since I met you, Writer Ha. Do you know why my face is always red? I always pinch myself on the cheeks over a dozen times a day just to check if I was dreaming."

"Stop it and have some food."

The lady boss of the restaurant began changing channels on the TV hanging on the wall. As the scene of Bo-Ra"s press conference appeared on the news, she put down the remote control. Unlike the lady boss, who was watching the news with much interest, Lee Eun-Ha was feeling quite nervous.

"Writer Ha, why don"t we finish this quickly and ask Tae-Sung out to join us for some drinks somewhere else?"

"Director Yoon should be busy."

"How busy can he be? He"ll definitely come out if I call him. Tonight will be on me in celebration of the drama." Lee Eun-Ha raised her voice, conscious about the TV.

Ha Jae-Gun smiled wryly at Lee Eun-Ha, "Thank you for being so considerate, Director Lee."

"..."

"But I"m fine. Don"t worry."

"Al; right…"

The two of them finished their meal and paid the bill. Then, they walked on the streets at night. They each had an ice cream stick for dessert and shared small talk as they headed back to the office.

Just as they were about to arrive at the building, unexpected guests showed up at the entrance. There was a h.o.a.rd of reporters from various broadcasting stations and magazines. They recognized Ha Jae-Gun and ran up to him.

"Mr. Ha Jae-Gun, have you seen the news? Please tell us what you feel about that."

"Is that all true? Did the incident really happen?"

"Have you heard from Ms. Won Ji-Yeon?"

Ha Jae-Gun blocked Lee Eun-Ha from the gathering reporters and silently pushed through the crowd. It wasn"t that he didn"t have any comments, but he didn"t want to turn this into a dirty fight and make his family and friends worry about him.

On top of that, there were only speculations, and there wasn"t any actual evidence.

"I"m sorry, it"s all because of me." Ha Jae-Gun apologized after they finally escaped from the h.o.a.rd of reporters as they stepped into the building.

Lee Eun-Ha smiled bitterly and replied, "It"s fine. Thanks to you, I actually find it quite new and fun to get attention in this way."

Both of them then took the elevator and headed up to the office.

As they arrived on the 17th floor, Ha Jae-Gun was able to see another group of people gathering outside their door. They were the writers from the office.

"Enough; please leave before Ha Jae-Gun hyung comes back. Why are you even asking for forgiveness now?" The reproachful voice came from Lee Yeon-Woo.

Ha Jae-Gun and Lee Eun-Ha hurried over. The other writers were fl.u.s.tered as they saw him return.

"J-Jae-Gun hyung…"

The writers took a step back, revealing a familiar-looking lady whose head was drooping and her hands gathered in front of her out of nervousness and fear.